Gynecologic instrument



1955 c. CASTELLI 2,714,886

GYNECOLOGIC INSTRUMENT Filed Aug. 20, 1955 ATTORNEY United States Patent GYNECOLQGIC INSTRUMENT Charles Castelli, New Brunswick, N. J., assignor to Qrtho Pharmaceutical Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application August 20, 1953, Serial No. 375,314 1 Claim. (Cl. 128-127) This invention relates to a gynecologic instrument for inserting an expansible diaphragm into the vaginal cavity.

More particularly, this invention relates to a device adapted to facilitate the insertion and positioning of a flexible diaphragm in the vaginal cavity and covering the cervix uteri.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved device of the character indicated which may be readily used to insert a vaginal diaphragm into proper position in the vaginal cavity and which is adapted to be readily disengaged from the diaphragm.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved device of the character indicated comprising two associated parts constructed such that diametrically opposite marginal portions of a flexible diaphragm may be engaged and held in a stretched position and in which the resiliency of the diaphragm contributes to its maintenance in the stretched condition.

Still another object is to provide an improved device of the character indicated which is of simple construction and may be used in connection with a diaphragm of any size.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a View in perspective of the device showing a diaphragm in place and under tension;

Figure 2 is a view, part in section and part in elevation, showing the diaphragm in place but in relaxed condition; and

Figure 3 is a top elevation showing the diaphragm in place and in relaxed condition.

The device embodying the present invention is composed of two parts; an elongated body member indicated generally at 10, and a slidable member indicated generally at 11. The sliding member has a strip portion 12, a front circular portion 16 integral with one end of the strip portion and a projecting portion 26 integral with front circular portion 16, which is adapted to receive and retain the rim 22 of a diaphragm and a rear circular portion 14 integral with the other end of the strip portion. Both circular portions are adapted to fit over the body member so that the sliding member of the device freely slides along the body member. The body member has a handle 28 at one end, and a notched portion 20 at the other end, the notch being adapted to receive and retain the rim 22 of a diaphragm, generally indicated at 24. The body member 10 is provided with upwardly extending projections or detents 18, so that when the diaphragm rim is seated in the notched portion 20 of the body memher and also held by projection 26 of the sliding member, the diaphragm may be maintained in a stretched condition by seating the circular portion 14 of the sliding member selectively behind one of the detents 18 thus anchoring the diaphragm in a desired stretched position on the device as seen in the drawing. Circular portion 14 of 2,714,886 Patented Aug. 9, 1955 ice sliding member 11 is of such a size that it may be readily unseated from a detent 13 by exerting pressure on the part of the said circular portion opposite the part seated behind the detent and thus enable the sliding member to slide forward on the body member and diaphragm to assume a relaxed position. A plurality of detents is provided in order that various sizes of diaphragms may be accommodated.

In order to use the device of this invention, the rim of an expansible diaphragm is first seated in the notched portion of the body member and then the portion of the diaphragm rim diametrically opposite to the portion seated in the notch is positioned behind the projection of the slidable member. The slidable member is then moved along the body member so as to stretch the diaphragm until the diaphragmis elongated to the extent desired and then the circular portion 14 of the slidable member is seated behind the appropriate detent. The resiliency of the diaphragm s rves to firmly retain the circular portion 14 behind the detent. The device is then inserted, with the diaphragm in stretched position, into the vaginal cavity in proper position and tension is released from the diaphragm by exerting pressure on the circular portion held by the detent to disengage the detent from the circular portion and allow the sliding member to move in the direction of the notched end of the body member. The position of the circular portion after pressure is exerted thereon is shown in dot and dash outline in Figure 2. The instrument may be then readily removed from the vagina without disturbing the position of the diaphragm,

The diaphragm, as illustrated in the drawing and as indicated generally at 24, is understood to be of conventional form and is made of a relatively thin flexible resilient material such as latex and has a flexible membrane 3t and a resilient rim 22 conventionally comprising a small coil or flat spring coated with the same type of flexible material as that comprising the flexible membrane.

The parts of the instrument of this invention may be made of any suitable material such as metal or plastic.

Although the construction of the instrument of this invention has been described in some detail it is to be understood that the description is solely to illustrate a concrete and preferred embodiment thereof; however, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details of the description and drawings except as such limitations may appear in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a gynecological instrument for introducing a dia-l phragm into the vaginal cavity; the combination of an elongated body member having a handle at one end, a groove at the other end adapted to seat the rim of a flexible diaphragm, and a series of aligned, regularly spaced detents adjacent to the handle; and a member adapted to slide on the body member, having a forward ring encircling the body member, a projecting portion at the forward end adapted to seat and retain the rim of a diaphragm at a position diametrically opposed to the part of the rim seated in the groove of the body member, and a rearward ring encircling the body member and adapted to seat behind and be retained by a detent, the rearward ring being larger in diameter than the body member and the detent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,324,485 Chamberlain July 20, 1943 

